Relay for Life

Last night was the Park Rapids Area Relay for Life, which is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. I have attended the event for many years in the past, but this year was special to me. In January, cancer took my mother after a ten-year battle, and three weeks later took my grandmother as well. Walking the track made me realize that I am only one of thousands of people in the Park Rapids Area who are touched in some way by cancer.

Walking around the track made me think about the day when God promises that all will be made right. He describes heaven this way in Revelation 21:4: “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” That will be a day with no tears for the loss of loved ones. It will be a day with no continual sorrow of the reminder of what could have been in a life taken too soon. It will be a day with no crying out in anguish about the pain that death leaves in its wake. It will be a day with no pain either for the victims or the ones watching their loved ones pass on and left behind.

It will be a day there will be no need for Relay for Life, and as nice as the Relay is, I’m looking forward to it.